Layer 2 Switch Security Technical Implementation Guide
| Version 8 Release |
| U_Network_L2_Switch_STIG_V8R2 |
| Layer 2 Switch Security Technical Implementation Guide |
- All
- Updated 2
- Added 2
- Removed 0
Vulnerabilities (56)
V-5624
The ISSO/NSO will ensure if 802.1x Port Authentication is implemented, re-authentication must occur every 60 minutes.
Discussion
Eliminating unauthorized access to the network from inside the enclave is vital to keeping a network secure. Internal access to the private network is enabled by simply connecting a workstation or laptop to a wall plate or access point located in the work area.
Fix Text
Ensure 802.1x reauthentication occurs every 60 minutes.
Check Content
Review the switch configuration for one of the following interface command: dot1x reauthentication or authentication periodic Once one of the interface commands, dot1x reauthentication or authentication periodic, is enabled, the default is 60 minutes. The interval can be made smaller. For example, if you would want re-authentication to occur every 30 minutes, you would configure the following interface command: dot1x timeout reauth-period 1800 or authentication timer reauthenticate 1800.
V-5646
The network device must drop half-open TCP connections through filtering thresholds or timeout periods.
Discussion
A TCP connection consists of a three-way handshake message sequence. A connection request is transmitted by the originator, an acknowledgement is returned from the receiver, and then an acceptance of that acknowledgement is sent by the originator. An attacker's goal in this scenario is to cause a denial of service to the network or device by initiating a high volume of TCP packets, then never sending an acknowledgement, leaving connections in a half-opened state. Without the device having a connection or time threshold for these half-opened sessions, the device risks being a victim of a denial of service attack. Setting a TCP timeout threshold will instruct the device to shut down any incomplete connections. Services such as SSH, BGP, SNMP, LDP, etc. are some services that may be prone to these types of denial of service attacks. If the router does not have any BGP connections with BGP neighbors across WAN links, values could be set to even tighter constraints.
Fix Text
Configure the device to drop half-open TCP connections through threshold filtering or timeout periods.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if threshold filters or timeout periods are set for dropping excessive half-open TCP connections. For timeout periods, the time should be set to 10 seconds or less. If the device cannot be configured for 10 seconds or less, it should be set to the least amount of time allowable in the configuration. Threshold filters will need to be determined by the organization for optimal filtering. If the device is not configured in a way to drop half-open TCP connections using filtering or timeout periods, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must display the DoD-approved logon banner warning.
Discussion
All network devices must present a DoD-approved warning banner prior to a system administrator logging on. The banner should warn any unauthorized user not to proceed. It also should provide clear and unequivocal notice to both authorized and unauthorized personnel that access to the device is subject to monitoring to detect unauthorized usage. Failure to display the required logon warning banner prior to logon attempts will limit DoD's ability to prosecute unauthorized access and also presents the potential to give rise to criminal and civil liability for systems administrators and information systems managers. In addition, DISA's ability to monitor the device's usage is limited unless a proper warning banner is displayed. DoD CIO has issued new, mandatory policy standardizing the wording of "notice and consent" banners and matching user agreements for all Secret and below DoD information systems, including stand-alone systems by releasing DoD CIO Memo, "Policy on Use of Department of Defense (DoD) Information Systems Standard Consent Banner and User Agreement", dated 9 May 2008. The banner is mandatory and deviations are not permitted except as authorized in writing by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Information and Identity Assurance. Implementation of this banner verbiage is further directed to all DoD components for all DoD assets via USCYBERCOM CTO 08-008A.
Fix Text
Configure all management interfaces to the network device to display the DoD-mandated warning banner verbiage at logon regardless of the means of connection or communication. The required banner verbiage that must be displayed verbatim is as follows: Option A You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) Information System (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions: -The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations. -At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS. -Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG-authorized purpose. -This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy. -Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. See User Agreement for details. Option B If the system is incapable of displaying the required banner verbiage due to its size, a smaller banner must be used. The mandatory verbiage follows: "I've read & consent to terms in IS user agreem't."
Check Content
Review the device configuration or request that the administrator logon to the device and observe the terminal. Verify either Option A or Option B (for systems with character limitations) of the Standard Mandatory DoD Notice and Consent Banner is displayed at logon. The required banner verbiage follows and must be displayed verbatim: Option A You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) Information System (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions: -The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations. -At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS. -Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG-authorized purpose. -This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy. -Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. See User Agreement for details. Option B If the system is incapable of displaying the required banner verbiage due to its size, a smaller banner must be used. The mandatory verbiage follows: "I've read & consent to terms in IS user agreem't." If the device configuration does not have a logon banner as stated above, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The switch must be configured to use 802.1x authentication on host facing access switch ports.
Discussion
The IEEE 802.1x standard is a client-server based access control and authentication protocol that restricts unauthorized clients from connecting to a local area network through host facing switch ports. The authentication server authenticates each client connected to to a switch port before making any services available to the client from the LAN. Unless the client is successfully authenticated, 802.1x access control allows only Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN (EAPOL) traffic through the port to which the client is connected. After authentication is successful, normal traffic can pass through the port. Without the use of 802.1x, a malicious user could use the switch port to connect an unauthorized piece of computer or other network device to inject or steal data from the network without detection.
Fix Text
Configure 802.11x x authentication on all accesshost switchfacing portsaccess connecting to LAN outlets (i.e., RJ-45 wall plates) or devices not located in the telecom room, wiring closets, or equipment rooms. Configure MAB on those switch ports connected to devices that do not support an 802.1x supplicant.
Check Content
Verify if the switch configuration has 802.1x authentication implemented for all access switch ports connecting to LAN outlets (i.e.,. RJ-45 wall plates) or devices not located in the telecom room, wiring closets, or equipment rooms. MACIf Authentication802.1x Bypassauthentication (MAB)is mustnot be configured on thosethese host-facing access switch ports, connectedthis tois devicesa thatCAT do1 notfinding. supportIf anMAC address filtering is implemented in lieu of 802.1x supplicantauthentication, this finding will be downgraded to a CAT 3.
NOTE: The section below is intended for classified networks. If it’s determined that 802.1x authentication or MAB is not configuredimplemented on alla accessclassified switchnetwork, portsthe connectingTraditional review team must be notified to LANdetermine outletsif the physical requirements are implemented. For a site to be downgraded to a CAT III open finding, the physical security requirements must be implemented in addition to static MAC or devicessticky secure MAC port security. If both physical and logical downgrades are not implemented, a CAT I open finding will be issued.
If classified LAN drops are not authenticated by an 802.1x implementation, they must be located inwithin thespaces telecomproperly roomestablished as Secret vaults, wiringSecret closetsSecure Rooms (AKA: Collateral Classified Open Storage Areas), TS secure room, or equipmentSCIF. roomsOtherwise, one of the following supplemental physical security controls must be implemented.
1. Wall jacks must be secured when unattended by persons with Secret or higher clearance with a properly constructed lock box (Hoffman or similar commercial product or locally fabricated). The lock box must have no exposed or removable hinges. The hasp hardware must be riveted to the box or otherwise installed so that removal will require physical breaking of the box; thereby leaving evidence of actual or attempted entry. The lock box must be secured with a 3-position high security combination padlock (IAW the NSTISSI 7003). The S&G 8077 combination padlock is the only existing padlock meeting this standard.
2. If lock boxes are not used, the alternative is to physically disconnect the SIPRNet link at the SIPRNet point of presence (PoP) after normal duty hours. The PoP must be located within a findingproper Secret or higher secure room.
Security Override Guidance
At this time, NET-NAC-009 can be downgraded to a CAT III finding if Static MAC filter is used in lieu of 802.1x authentication on host facing switch ports.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
IA Controls
ECSC-1
Network devices must have BSDr commands disabled.
Discussion
Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) "r" commands allow users to execute commands on remote systems using a variety of protocols. The BSD "r" commands (e.g., rsh, rlogin, rcp, rdump, rrestore, and rdist) are designed to provide convenient remote access without passwords to services such as remote command execution (rsh), remote login (rlogin), and remote file copy (rcp and rdist). The difficulty with these commands is they use address-based authentication. An attacker who convinces a server that he is coming from a "trusted" machine can essentially get complete and unrestricted access to a system. The attacker can convince the server by impersonating a trusted machine and using IP address, by confusing DNS so that DNS thinks that the attacker's IP address maps to a trusted machine's name, or by any of a number of other methods.
Fix Text
Configure the device to disable BSDr command services.
Check Content
Review the device configuration and verify there are no BSDr commands (e.g., rsh, rlogin, rcp, rdump, rrestore, and rdist) enabled. If BSDr commands are enabled, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must authenticate all NTP messages received from NTP servers and peers.
Discussion
Since NTP is used to ensure accurate log file time stamp information, NTP could pose a security risk if a malicious user were able to falsify NTP information. To launch an attack on the NTP infrastructure, a hacker could inject time that would be accepted by NTP clients by spoofing the IP address of a valid NTP server. To mitigate this risk, the time messages must be authenticated by the client before accepting them as a time source. Two NTP-enabled devices can communicate in either client-server mode or peer-to-peer mode (aka "symmetric mode"). The peering mode is configured manually on the device and indicated in the outgoing NTP packets. The fundamental difference is the synchronization behavior: an NTP server can synchronize to a peer with better stratum, whereas it will never synchronize to its client regardless of the client's stratum. From a protocol perspective, NTP clients are no different from the NTP servers. The NTP client can synchronize to multiple NTP servers, select the best server and synchronize with it, or synchronize to the averaged value returned by the servers. A hierarchical model can be used to improve scalability. With this implementation, an NTP client can also become an NTP server providing time to downstream clients at a higher stratum level and of decreasing accuracy than that of its upstream server. To increase availability, NTP peering can be used between NTP servers. In the event the device loses connectivity to its upstream NTP server, it will be able to choose time from one of its peers. The NTP authentication model is opposite of the typical client-server authentication model. NTP authentication enables an NTP client or peer to authenticate time received from their servers and peers. It is not used to authenticate NTP clients because NTP servers do not care about the authenticity of their clients, as they never accept any time from them.
Fix Text
Configure the device to authenticate all received NTP messages using a FIPS-approved message authentication code algorithm.
Check Content
Review the network element configuration and verify that it is authenticating NTP messages received from the NTP server or peer using a FIPS-approved message authentication code algorithm. FIPS-approved algorithms for authentication are the cipher-based message authentication code (CMAC) and the keyed-hash message authentication code (HMAC). AES and 3DES are NIST-approved CMAC algorithms. The following are NIST-approved HMAC algorithms: SHA-1, SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, SHA-512/224, and SHA-512/256. Downgrade: If the network device is not capable of authenticating the NTP server or peer using a FIPS-approved message authentication code algorithm, then MD5 can be utilized for NTP message authentication and the finding can be downgraded to a CAT III. If the network element is not configured to authenticate received NTP messages using a FIPS-approved message authentication code algorithm, this is a finding. A downgrade can be determined based on the criteria above.
The network device must not allow SSH Version 1 to be used for administrative access.
Discussion
SSH Version 1 is a protocol that has never been defined in a standard. Since SSH-1 has inherent design flaws which make it vulnerable to attacks, e.g., man-in-the-middle attacks, it is now generally considered obsolete and should be avoided by explicitly disabling fallback to SSH-1.
Fix Text
Configure the network device to use SSH version 2.
Check Content
Review the configuration and verify SSH Version 1 is not being used for administrative access. If the device is using an SSHv1 session, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must use two or more authentication servers for the purpose of granting administrative access.
Discussion
The use of Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) affords the best methods for controlling user access, authorization levels, and activity logging. By enabling AAA on the routers in conjunction with an authentication server such as TACACS+ or RADIUS, the administrators can easily add or remove user accounts, add or remove command authorizations, and maintain a log of user activity. The use of an authentication server provides the capability to assign router administrators to tiered groups that contain their privilege level that is used for authorization of specific commands. For example, user mode would be authorized for all authenticated administrators while configuration or edit mode should only be granted to those administrators that are permitted to implement router configuration changes.
Fix Text
Configure the device to use two separate authentication servers.
Check Content
Verify an authentication server is required to access the device and that there are two or more authentication servers defined. If the device is not configured for two separate authentication servers, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The emergency administration account must be set to an appropriate authorization level to perform necessary administrative functions when the authentication server is not online.
Discussion
The emergency administration account is to be configured as a local account on the network devices. It is to be used only when the authentication server is offline or not reachable via the network. The emergency account must be set to an appropriate authorization level to perform necessary administrative functions during this time.
Fix Text
Assign a privilege level to the emergency administration account to allow the administrator to perform necessary administrative functions when the authentication server is not online.
Check Content
Review the emergency administration account configured on the network devices and verify that it has been assigned to a privilege level that will enable the administrator to perform necessary administrative functions when the authentication server is not online. If the emergency administration account is configured for more access than needed to troubleshoot issues, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The OOBM access switch is not physically connected to the managed network element OOBM interface.
Discussion
The OOBM access switch will connect to the management interface of the managed network elements. The management interface of the managed network element must be directly connected to the OOBM network to ensure seperation. An OOBM interface does not forward transit traffic; thereby, providing complete separation of production and management traffic. Since all management traffic is immediately forwarded into the management network, it is not exposed to possible tampering. The separation also ensures that congestion or failures in the managed network do not affect the management of the device.
Fix Text
Physically connected the OOBM access switch to the managed network element OOBM interface.
Check Content
Examine the connection from the OOBM access switch to the managed network elements. Verify which interface is being used at the managed network elements so that it can be determined if the interface is a true OOBM interface.
Responsibility
System Administrator
IA Controls
ECSC-1
The network devices OOBM interface must be configured with an OOBM network address.
Discussion
The OOBM access switch will connect to the management interface of the managed network device. The management interface of the managed network device will be directly connected to the OOBM network. An OOBM interface does not forward transit traffic; thereby, providing complete separation of production and management traffic. Since all management traffic is immediately forwarded into the management network, it is not exposed to possible tampering. The separation also ensures that congestion or failures in the managed network do not affect the management of the device. If the OOBM interface does not have an IP address from the managed network address space, it will not have reachability from the NOC using scalable and normal control plane and forwarding mechanisms.
Fix Text
Configure the OOB management interface with an IP address from the address space belonging to the OOBM network.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if the OOB management interface is assigned an appropriate IP address from the authorized OOB management network. If an IP address assigned to the interface is not from an authorized OOB management network, this is a finding.
Responsibility
System Administrator
The management interface is an access switchport and has not been assigned to a separate management VLAN.
Discussion
The OOBM access switch will connect to the management interface of the managed network elements. The management interface can be a true OOBM interface or a standard interface functioning as the management interface. In either case, the management interface of the managed network element will be directly connected to the OOBM network. If the device does not have an OOBM port, the interface functioning as the management interface must be configured so that management traffic does not leak into the managed network and that production traffic does not leak into the management network.
Fix Text
If the management interface is an access switchport, assign it to a separate management VLAN while the remainder of the access switchports can be assigned to user VLANs belonging to the managed network. This provides some level of separation between the management network and the managed network.
Check Content
Review the managed switch configuration and verify that the access port connected to the OOBM access switch has been assigned to the management VLAN.
Responsibility
System Administrator
IA Controls
ECSC-1
An address has not been configured for the management VLAN from space belonging to the OOBM network assigned to that site.
Discussion
The OOBM access switch will connect to the management interface of the managed network elements. The management interface can be a true OOBM interface or a standard interface functioning as the management interface. In either case, the management interface of the managed network element will be directly connected to the OOBM network. An OOBM interface does not forward transit traffic; thereby, providing complete separation of production and management traffic. Since all management traffic is immediately forwarded into the management network, it is not exposed to possible tampering. The separation also ensures that congestion or failures in the managed network do not affect the management of the device.
Fix Text
Assign an IP address to the management VLAN from the address space belonging to the OOBM network.
Check Content
Review the managed switch configuration and verify that an address has been configured for management VLAN from space belonging to the OOBM network that has been assigned to that site.
Responsibility
System Administrator
IA Controls
ECSC-1
The access switchport connecting to the OOBM access switch is not the only port with membership to the management VLAN.
Discussion
The OOBM access switch will connect to the management interface of the managed network elements. The management interface can be a true OOBM interface or a standard interface functioning as the management interface. In either case, the management interface of the managed network element will be directly connected to the OOBM network. An OOBM interface does not forward transit traffic; thereby, providing complete separation of production and management traffic. Since all management traffic is immediately forwarded into the management network, it is not exposed to possible tampering. The separation also ensures that congestion or failures in the managed network do not affect the management of the device.
Fix Text
Ensure that the access switchport connecting to the OOBM access switch is the only port with membership to the management VLAN
Check Content
Review the managed switch configuration and verify that the access port connected to the OOBM access switch is the only port has been assigned to the management VLAN.
Responsibility
System Administrator
IA Controls
ECSC-1
The management VLAN is not pruned from any VLAN trunk links belonging to the managed network’s infrastructure.
Discussion
The OOBM access switch will connect to the management interface of the managed network elements. The management interface can be a true OOBM interface or a standard interface functioning as the management interface. In either case, the management interface of the managed network element will be directly connected to the OOBM network. An OOBM interface does not forward transit traffic; thereby, providing complete separation of production and management traffic. Since all management traffic is immediately forwarded into the management network, it is not exposed to possible tampering. The separation also ensures that congestion or failures in the managed network do not affect the management of the device. If the device does not have an OOBM port, the interface functioning as the management interface must be configured so that management traffic does not leak into the managed network and that production traffic does not leak into the management network. ISL and 802.1q trunking enables multiple VLANs to traverse the same physical links between layer 2 switches or between a layer 2 switch and a router. If the management VLAN is not pruned from any VLAN trunk links belonging to the managed network’s infrastructure, management traffic has the potential to leak into the production network.
Fix Text
Prune the management VLAN from any VLAN trunk links belonging to the managed network’s infrastructure.
Check Content
By default all the VLANs that exist on a switch are active on a trunk link. Since the switch is being managed via OOBM connection, management traffic should not traverse any trunk links.
Responsibility
System Administrator
IA Controls
ECSC-1
The management VLAN must be configured with an IP address from the management network address block.
Discussion
If the management systems reside within the same layer 2 switching domain as the managed network device, then separate VLANs will be deployed to provide separation at that level. In this case, the management network still has its own subnet while at the same time it is defined as a unique VLAN.
Fix Text
Configure the management VLAN with an IP address from the management network address block.
Check Content
Review the switch configuration to determine if the management VLAN has been assigned an IP address from the management network address block. If the management VLAN interface has not been assigned an IP address from the management network address block, this is a finding.
Responsibility
System Administrator
Printers must be assigned to a VLAN that is not shared by unlike devices.
Discussion
Aspects of hardening the network wall plate may include traffic filtering or restrictions on connectivity to enforce a device-, community of interest-, or user-specific security policy. For example, if a printer were plugged into a switch port, it would be prudent to ensure that only printer traffic is allowed on that switch port. If the printer is unplugged and a substitute device other than a printer is plugged into that switch port, the substitute device should not be able to communicate arbitrarily with other devices because only printer traffic is allowed on that switch port.
Fix Text
Create a VLAN on the device for print type devices and assign printers to the VLAN ID.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if a VLAN has been established for printers.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
IA Controls
DCSP-1
The IAO will ensure that all switchports configured using MAC port security will shutdown upon receiving a frame with a different layer 2 source address than what has been configured or learned for port security.
Discussion
The Port Security feature remembers the Ethernet MAC address connected to the switch port and allows only that MAC address to communicate on that port. If any other MAC address tries to communicate through the port, port security will disable the port.
Fix Text
Configure the port to shutdown when insecure hosts are connected to the wall jack.
Check Content
A shutdown action puts the interface into the error-disabled state immediately and sends an SNMP trap notification if it receives a frame with a different layer 2 source address that what has been configured or learned for port security. The following Catalyst IOS interface command will shutdown the interface when such an event occurs: switchport port-security violation shutdown
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The switch must only allow a maximum of one registered MAC address per access port.
Discussion
Limiting the number of registered MAC addresses on a switch access port can help prevent a CAM table overflow attack. This type of attack lets an attacker exploit the hardware and memory limitations of a switch. If there are enough entries stored in a CAM table before the expiration of other entries, no new entries can be accepted into the CAM table. An attacker will able to flood the switch with mostly invalid MAC addresses until the CAM table’s resources have been depleted. When there are no more resources, the switch has no choice but to flood all ports within the VLAN with all incoming traffic. This happens because the switch cannot find the switch port number for a corresponding MAC address within the CAM table, allowing the switch to become a hub and traffic to be monitored.
Fix Text
Configure the switch to limit the maximum number of registered MAC addresses on each access switch port to one.
Check Content
Review the switch configuration to verify each access port is configured for a single registered MAC address. Some technologies are exempt from requiring a single MAC address per access port; however, restrictions still apply. VoIP or VTC endpoints may provide a PC port so a PC can be connected. Each of the devices will need to be statically assigned to each access port. Another green initiative where a single LAN drop is shared among several devices is called "hot-desking", which is related to conservation of office space and teleworking. Hot-desking is where several people are assigned to work at the same desk at different times, each user with their own PC. In this case, a different MAC address needs to be permitted for each PC that is connecting to the LAN drop in the workspace. Additionally, this workspace could contain a single phone (and possibly desktop VTC endpoint) used by all assignees and the PC port on it might be the connection for their laptop. In this case, it is best not to use sticky port security, but to use a static mapping of authorized devices or implement 802.1x. If this is not a teleworking remote location, this exemption does not apply.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
IA Controls
DCSP-1
Network devices must use at least two NTP servers to synchronize time.
Discussion
Without synchronized time, accurately correlating information between devices becomes difficult, if not impossible. If logs cannot be successfully compared between each of the routers, switches, and firewalls, it will be very difficult to determine the exact events that resulted in a network breach incident. NTP provides an efficient and scalable method for network devices to synchronize to an accurate time source.
Fix Text
Configure the device to use two separate NTP servers.
Check Content
Review the configuration and verify two NTP servers have been defined. If the device is not configured to use two separate NTP servers, this is a finding.
Responsibility
System Administrator
A service or feature that calls home to the vendor must be disabled.
Discussion
Call home services or features will routinely send data such as configuration and diagnostic information to the vendor for routine or emergency analysis and troubleshooting. The risk that transmission of sensitive data sent to unauthorized persons could result in data loss or downtime due to an attack.
Fix Text
Configure the network device to disable the call home service or feature. Note: This feature can be enabled if the communication is only to a server residing in the local area network or enclave.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if the call home service or feature is disabled on the device. If the call home service is enabled on the device, this is a finding. Note: This feature can be enabled if the communication is only to a server residing in the local area network or enclave.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must be password protected.
Discussion
Network access control mechanisms interoperate to prevent unauthorized access and to enforce the organization's security policy. Access to the network must be categorized as administrator, user, or guest so the appropriate authorization can be assigned to the user requesting access to the network or a network device. Authorization requires an individual account identifier that has been approved, assigned, and configured on an authentication server. Authentication of user identities is accomplished through the use of passwords, tokens, biometrics, or in the case of multi-factor authentication, some combination thereof. Lack of authentication enables anyone to gain access to the network or possibly a network device providing opportunity for intruders to compromise resources within the network infrastructure.
Fix Text
Configure the network devices so it will require a password to gain administrative access to the device.
Check Content
Review the network devices configuration to determine if administrative access to the device requires some form of authentication--at a minimum a password is required. If passwords aren't used to administrative access to the device, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network devices must timeout management connections for administrative access after 10 minutes or less of inactivity.
Discussion
Terminating an idle session within a short time period reduces the window of opportunity for unauthorized personnel to take control of a management session enabled between the managed network device and a PC or terminal server when the later has been left unattended. In addition quickly terminating an idle session will also free up resources committed by the managed network device as well as reduce the risk of a management session from being hijacked. Setting the timeout of the session to 10 minutes or less increases the level of protection afforded critical network components.
Fix Text
Configure the network devices to ensure the timeout for unattended administrative access connections is no longer than 10 minutes.
Check Content
Review the management connection for administrative access and verify the network device is configured to time-out the connection at 10 minutes or less of inactivity. If the device does not terminate inactive management connections at 10 minutes or less, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must have DNS servers defined if it is configured as a client resolver.
Discussion
The susceptibility of IP addresses to spoofing translates to DNS host name and IP address mapping vulnerabilities. For example, suppose a source host wishes to establish a connection with a destination host and queries a DNS server for the IP address of the destination host name. If the response to this query is the IP address of a host operated by an attacker, the source host will establish a connection with the attacker's host, rather than the intended target. The user on the source host might then provide logon, authentication, and other sensitive data.
Fix Text
Configure the device to include DNS servers or disable domain lookup.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to ensure DNS servers have been defined if it has been configured as a client resolver (name lookup). If the device is configured as a client resolver and DNS servers are not defined, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must only allow SNMP access from addresses belonging to the management network.
Discussion
Detailed information about the network is sent across the network via SNMP. If this information is discovered by attackers it could be used to trace the network, show the networks topology, and possibly gain access to network devices.
Fix Text
Configure the network devices to only allow SNMP access from only addresses belonging to the management network.
Check Content
Review the device configuration and verify it is configured to only allow SNMP access from addresses belonging to the management network. If the device is not configured to filter SNMP from the management network only, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network device must use different SNMP community names or groups for various levels of read and write access.
Discussion
Numerous vulnerabilities exist with SNMP; therefore, without unique SNMP community names, the risk of compromise is dramatically increased. This is especially true with vendors default community names which are widely known by hackers and other networking experts. If a hacker gains access to these devices and can easily guess the name, this could result in denial of service, interception of sensitive information, or other destructive actions.
Fix Text
Configure the SNMP community strings on the network device and change them from the default values. SNMP community strings and user passwords must be unique and not match any other network device passwords. Different community strings (V1/2) or groups (V3) must be configured for various levels of read and write access.
Check Content
Review the SNMP configuration of all managed nodes to ensure different community names (V1/2) or groups/users (V3) are configured for read-only and read-write access. If unique community strings or accounts are not used for SNMP peers, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Group accounts must not be configured for use on the network device.
Discussion
Group accounts configured for use on a network device do not allow for accountability or repudiation of individuals using the shared account. If group accounts are not changed when someone leaves the group, that person could possibly gain control of the network device. Having group accounts does not allow for proper auditing of who is accessing or changing the network.
Fix Text
Configure individual user accounts for each authorized person then remove any group accounts.
Check Content
Review the network device configuration and validate there are no group accounts configured for access. If a group account is configured on the device, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Authorized accounts must be assigned the least privilege level necessary to perform assigned duties.
Discussion
By not restricting authorized accounts to their proper privilege level, access to restricted functions may be allowed before authorized personnel are trained or experienced enough to use those functions. Network disruptions or outages may occur due to mistakes made by inexperienced persons using accounts with greater privileges than necessary.
Fix Text
Configure authorized accounts with the least privilege rule. Each user will have access to only the privileges they require to perform their assigned duties.
Check Content
Review the accounts authorized for access to the network device. Determine if the accounts are assigned the lowest privilege level necessary to perform assigned duties. User accounts must be set to a specific privilege level which can be mapped to specific commands or a group of commands. Authorized accounts should have the least privilege level unless deemed necessary for assigned duties. If it is determined that authorized accounts are assigned to greater privileges than necessary, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Unauthorized accounts must not be configured for access to the network device.
Discussion
A malicious user attempting to gain access to the network device may compromise an account that may be unauthorized for use. The unauthorized account may be a temporary or inactive account that is no longer needed to access the device. Denial of Service, interception of sensitive information, or other destructive actions could potentially take place if an unauthorized account is configured to access the network device.
Fix Text
Remove any account configured for access to the network device that is not defined in the organization's responsibilities list.
Check Content
Review the organization's responsibilities list and reconcile the list of authorized accounts with those accounts defined for access to the network device. If an unauthorized account is configured for access to the device, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must be configured to ensure passwords are not viewable when displaying configuration information.
Discussion
Many attacks on information systems and network devices are launched from within the network. Hence, it is imperative that all passwords are encrypted so they cannot be intercepted by viewing the console or printout of the configuration.
Fix Text
Configure the network devices to ensure passwords are not viewable when displaying configuration information.
Check Content
Review the network devices configuration to determine if passwords are viewable. If passwords are viewable in plaintext, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Management connections to a network device must be established using secure protocols with FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules.
Discussion
Administration and management connections performed across a network are inherently dangerous because anyone with a packet sniffer and access to the right LAN segment can acquire the network device account and password information. With this intercepted information they could gain access to the router and cause denial of service attacks, intercept sensitive information, or perform other destructive actions.
Fix Text
Configure the network device to use secure protocols with FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules.
Check Content
Review the network device configuration to verify only secure protocols using FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules are used for any administrative access. Some of the secure protocols used for administrative and management access are listed below. This list is not all inclusive and represents a sample selection of secure protocols. -SSHv2 -SCP -HTTPS using TLS If management connections are established using protocols without FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must log all attempts to establish a management connection for administrative access.
Discussion
Audit logs are necessary to provide a trail of evidence in case the network is compromised. Without an audit trail that provides a when, where, who and how set of information, repeat offenders could continue attacks against the network indefinitely. With this information, the network administrator can devise ways to block the attack and possibly identify and prosecute the attacker.
Fix Text
Configure the device to log all access attempts to the device to establish a management connection for administrative access.
Check Content
Review the configuration to verify all attempts to access the device via management connection are logged. If management connection attempts are not logged, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The running configuration must be synchronized with the startup configuration after changes have been made and implemented.
Discussion
If the running and startup router configurations are not synchronized properly and a router malfunctions, it will not restart with all of the recent changes incorporated. If the recent changes were security related, then the routers would be vulnerable to attack.
Fix Text
Add procedures to the standard operating procedure to keep the running configuration synchronized with the startup configuration.
Check Content
Review the running and boot configurations to determine if they are synchronized. IOS Procedure: With online editing, the "show running-config" command will only show the current running configuration settings, which are different from the IOS defaults. The "show startup-config" command will show the NVRAM startup configuration. Compare the two configurations to ensure they are synchronized. JUNOS Procedure: This will never be a finding. The active configuration is stored on flash as juniper.conf. A candidate configuration allows configuration changes while in configuration mode without initiating operational changes. The router implements the candidate configuration when it is committed; thereby, making it the new active configuration--at which time it will be stored on flash as juniper.conf and the old juniper.conf will become juniper.conf.1. If running configuration and boot configurations are not the same, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must have the Finger service disabled.
Discussion
The Finger service supports the UNIX Finger protocol, which is used for querying a host about the users that are logged on. This service is not necessary for generic users. If an attacker were to find out who is using the network, they may use social engineering practices to try to elicit classified DoD information.
Fix Text
Configure the device to disable the Finger service.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if Finger has been implemented. If the Finger service is enabled, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must have HTTP service for administrative access disabled.
Discussion
The additional services the router is enabled for increases the risk for an attack since the router will listen for these services. In addition, these services provide an unsecured method for an attacker to gain access to the router. Most recent software versions support remote configuration and monitoring using the World Wide Web's HTTP protocol. In general, HTTP access is equivalent to interactive access to the router. The authentication protocol used for HTTP is equivalent to sending a clear-text password across the network, and, unfortunately, there is no effective provision in HTTP for challenge-based or one-time passwords. This makes HTTP a relatively risky choice for use across the public Internet. Any additional services that are enabled increase the risk for an attack since the router will listen for these services. The HTTPS server may be enabled for administrative access.
Fix Text
Configure the device to disable using HTTP (port 80) for administrative access.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine that HTTP is not enabled for administrative access. The HTTPS server may be enabled for administrative access. If the device allows the use of HTTP for administrative access, this is a finding.
Network devices must not have any default manufacturer passwords.
Discussion
Network devices not protected with strong password schemes provide the opportunity for anyone to crack the password thus gaining access to the device and causing network outage or denial of service. Many default vendor passwords are well-known; hence, not removing them prior to deploying the network devices into production provides an opportunity for a malicious user to gain unauthorized access to the device.
Fix Text
Remove any vendor default passwords from the network devices configuration.
Check Content
Review the network devices configuration to determine if the vendor default password is active. If any vendor default passwords are used on the device, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must be running a current and supported operating system with all IAVMs addressed.
Discussion
Network devices not running the latest tested and approved versions of software are vulnerable to network attacks. Running the most current, approved version of system and device software helps the site maintain a stable base of security fixes and patches, as well as enhancements to IP security. Viruses, denial of service attacks, system weaknesses, back doors and other potentially harmful situations could render a system vulnerable, allowing unauthorized access to DoD assets.
Fix Text
Update operating system to a supported version that addresses all related IAVMs.
Check Content
Have the administrator display the OS version in operation. The OS must be current with related IAVMs addressed. If the device is using an OS that does not meet all IAVMs or currently not supported by the vendor, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network device must require authentication prior to establishing a management connection for administrative access.
Discussion
Network devices with no password for administrative access via a management connection provide the opportunity for anyone with network access to the device to make configuration changes enabling them to disrupt network operations resulting in a network outage.
Fix Text
Configure authentication for all management connections.
Check Content
Review the network device configuration to verify all management connections for administrative access require authentication. If authentication isn't configured for management access, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network device must use SNMP Version 3 Security Model with FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography for any SNMP agent configured on the device.
Discussion
SNMP Versions 1 and 2 are not considered secure. Without the strong authentication and privacy that is provided by the SNMP Version 3 User-based Security Model (USM), an unauthorized user can gain access to network management information used to launch an attack against the network.
Fix Text
If SNMP is enabled, configure the network device to use SNMP Version 3 Security Model with FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography (i.e., SHA authentication and AES encryption).
Check Content
Review the device configuration to verify it is configured to use SNMPv3 with both SHA authentication and privacy using AES encryption. Downgrades: If the site is using Version 1 or Version 2 with all of the appropriate patches and has developed a migration plan to implement the Version 3 Security Model, this finding can be downgraded to a Category II. If the targeted asset is running SNMPv3 and does not support SHA or AES, but the device is configured to use MD5 authentication and DES or 3DES encryption, then the finding can be downgraded to a Category III. If the site is using Version 1 or Version 2 and has installed all of the appropriate patches or upgrades to mitigate any known security vulnerabilities, this finding can be downgraded to a Category II. In addition, if the device does not support SNMPv3, this finding can be downgraded to a Category III provided all of the appropriate patches to mitigate any known security vulnerabilities have been applied and has developed a migration plan that includes the device upgrade to support Version 3 and the implementation of the Version 3 Security Model. If the device is configured to use to anything other than SNMPv3 with at least SHA-1 and AES, this is a finding. Downgrades can be determined based on the criteria above.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network device must not use the default or well-known SNMP community strings public and private.
Discussion
Network devices may be distributed by the vendor pre-configured with an SNMP agent using the well-known SNMP community strings public for read only and private for read and write authorization. An attacker can obtain information about a network device using the read community string "public". In addition, an attacker can change a system configuration using the write community string "private".
Fix Text
Configure unique SNMP community strings replacing the default community strings.
Check Content
Review the network devices configuration and verify if either of the SNMP community strings "public" or "private" is being used. If default or well-known community strings are used for SNMP, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
In the event the authentication server is unavailable, the network device must have a single local account of last resort defined.
Discussion
Authentication for administrative access to the device is required at all times. A single account of last resort can be created on the device's local database for use in an emergency such as when the authentication server is down or connectivity between the device and the authentication server is not operable. The console or local account of last resort logon credentials must be stored in a sealed envelope and kept in a safe.
Fix Text
Configure the device to only allow one local account of last resort for emergency access and store the credentials in a secure manner.
Check Content
Review the network device configuration to determine if an authentication server is defined for gaining administrative access. If so, there must be only one account of last resort configured locally for an emergency. Verify the username and password for the local account of last resort is contained within a sealed envelope kept in a safe. If an authentication server is used and more than one local account exists, this is a finding.
The network devices must time out access to the console port at 10 minutes or less of inactivity.
Discussion
Terminating an idle session within a short time period reduces the window of opportunity for unauthorized personnel to take control of a management session enabled on the console or console port that has been left unattended. In addition quickly terminating an idle session will also free up resources committed by the managed network device. Setting the timeout of the session to 10 minutes or less increases the level of protection afforded critical network components.
Fix Text
Configure the timeout for idle console connection to 10 minutes or less.
Check Content
Review the configuration and verify a session using the console port will time out after 10 minutes or less of inactivity. If console access is not configured to timeout at 10 minutes or less, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Network devices must only allow SNMP read-only access.
Discussion
Enabling write access to the device via SNMP provides a mechanism that can be exploited by an attacker to set configuration variables that can disrupt network operations.
Fix Text
Configure the network device to allow for read-only SNMP access when using SNMPv1, v2c, or basic v3 (no authentication or privacy). Write access may be used if authentication is configured when using SNMPv3.
Check Content
Review the network device configuration and verify SNMP community strings are read-only when using SNMPv1, v2c, or basic v3 (no authentication or privacy). Write access may be used if authentication is configured when using SNMPv3. If write-access is used for SNMP versions 1, 2c, or 3-noAuthNoPriv mode and there is no documented approval by the ISSO, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
VLAN 1 must not be used for user VLANs.
Discussion
In a VLAN-based network, switches use VLAN 1 as the default VLAN for in-band management and to communicate with other networking devices using Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP), Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP), Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP), VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP), and Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP)--all untagged traffic. As a consequence, VLAN 1 may unwisely span the entire network if not appropriately pruned. If its scope is large enough, the risk of compromise can increase significantly.
Fix Text
Best practices for VLAN-based networks is to prune unnecessary ports from gaining access to VLAN 1 as well as the management VLAN, and to separate in-band management, device protocol, and data traffic.
Check Content
Review the device configuration and verify that access ports have not been assigned membership to the VLAN 1. If any access ports are found in VLAN 1, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
VLAN 1 must be pruned from all trunk and access ports that do not require it.
Discussion
VLAN 1 is a special VLAN that tags and handles most of the control plane traffic such as Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP), Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP), Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP), VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP), and Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) all VLAN 1 tagged traffic. VLAN 1 is enabled on all trunks and ports by default. With larger campus networks, care needs to be taken about the diameter of the VLAN 1 STP domain; instability in one part of the network could affect VLAN 1, thereby influencing control-plane stability and therefore STP stability for all other VLANs.
Fix Text
Best practice for VLAN-based networks is to prune unnecessary ports from gaining access to VLAN 1 and insure that it does not traverse trunks not requiring VLAN 1 traffic.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if VLAN 1 is pruned from all trunk and access switch ports. If VLAN 1 is not pruned from trunk or access switch ports where it's not required, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Disabled switch ports must be placed in an unused VLAN (do not use VLAN1).
Discussion
It is possible that a disabled port that is assigned to a user or management VLAN becomes enabled by accident or by an attacker and as a result gains access to that VLAN as a member.
Fix Text
Assign all disabled ports to an unused VLAN. Do not use VLAN1.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if all disabled ports have been placed into an unused VLAN. The VLAN must not be VLAN 1. If disabled ports are not assigned to an unused VLAN or have been placed into VLAN 1, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Access switchports must not be assigned to the native VLAN.
Discussion
Double encapsulation can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the native VLAN of the trunk port. Knowing the victim's MAC address and with the victim attached to a different switch belonging to the same trunk group, thereby requiring the trunk link and frame tagging, the malicious user can begin the attack by sending frames with two sets of tags. The outer tag that will have the attacker's VLAN ID (probably the well-known and omnipresent VLAN 1) is stripped off by the switch, and the inner tag that will have the victim's VLAN ID is used by the switch as the next hop and sent out the trunk port.
Fix Text
To insure the integrity of the trunk link and prevent unauthorized access, the native VLAN of the trunk port should be changed from the default VLAN 1 to its own unique VLAN. Access switchports must never be assigned to the native VLAN.
Check Content
Review the switch configurations and examine all access ports. Verify that they do not belong to the native VLAN. If any access switch ports are assigned to the native VLAN, it is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network device must require authentication for console access.
Discussion
Network devices with no password for administrative access via the console provide the opportunity for anyone with physical access to the device to make configuration changes enabling them to disrupt network operations resulting in a network outage.
Fix Text
Configure authentication for console access on the network device.
Check Content
Review the network device's configuration and verify authentication is required for console access. If authentication is not configured for console access, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network device must log all messages except debugging and send all log data to a syslog server.
Discussion
Logging is a critical part of router security. Maintaining an audit trail of system activity logs (syslog) can help identify configuration errors, understand past intrusions, troubleshoot service disruptions, and react to probes and scans of the network. Syslog levels 0-6 are the levels required to collect the necessary information to help in the recovery process.
Fix Text
Configure the network device to log all messages except debugging and send all log data to a syslog server.
Check Content
Review the network device configuration to ensure all messages up to and including severity level 6 (informational) are logged and sent to a syslog server. Severity Level Message Type 0 Emergencies 1 Alerts 2 Critical 3 Errors 4 Warning 5 Notifications 6 Informational 7 Debugging If logging does not capture of up severity level 6, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network devices must only allow management connections for administrative access from hosts residing in the management network.
Discussion
Remote administration is inherently dangerous because anyone with a sniffer and access to the right LAN segment could acquire the device account and password information. With this intercepted information they could gain access to the infrastructure and cause denial of service attacks, intercept sensitive information, or perform other destructive actions.
Fix Text
Configure an ACL or filter to restrict management access to the device from only the management network.
Check Content
Review the configuration and verify management access to the device is allowed only from hosts within the management network. If management access can be gained from outside of the authorized management network, this is a finding.
The network devices must be configured to timeout after 60 seconds or less for incomplete or broken SSH sessions.
Discussion
An attacker may attempt to connect to the device using SSH by guessing the authentication method, encryption algorithm, and keys. Limiting the amount of time allowed for authenticating and negotiating the SSH session reduces the window of opportunity for the malicious user attempting to make a connection to the network device.
Fix Text
Configure the network devices so it will require a secure shell timeout of 60 seconds or less.
Check Content
Review the configuration and verify the timeout is set for 60 seconds or less. The SSH service terminates the connection if protocol negotiation (that includes user authentication) is not complete within this timeout period. If the device is not configured to drop broken SSH sessions after 60 seconds, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The network device must be configured for a maximum number of unsuccessful SSH logon attempts set at 3 before resetting the interface.
Discussion
An attacker may attempt to connect to the device using SSH by guessing the authentication method and authentication key or shared secret. Setting the authentication retry to 3 or less strengthens against a Brute Force attack.
Fix Text
Configure the network device to require a maximum number of unsuccessful SSH logon attempts at 3.
Check Content
Review the configuration and verify the number of unsuccessful SSH logon attempts is set at 3. If the device is not configured to reset unsuccessful SSH logon attempts at 3, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The native VLAN must be assigned to a VLAN ID other than the default VLAN for all 802.1q trunk links.
Discussion
VLAN hopping can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the same VLAN as the native VLAN of the trunk link connecting to another switch in which the victim is connected to. If the attacker knows the victim's MAC address, it can forge a frame with two 802.1q tags and a layer 2 header with the destination address of the victim. Since the frame will ingress the switch from a port belonging to its native VLAN, the trunk port connecting to victim's switch will simply remove the outer tag because native VLAN traffic is to be untagged. The switch will forward the frame unto the trunk link unaware of the inner tag with a VLAN ID for which the victim's switchport is a member of.
Fix Text
To ensure the integrity of the trunk link and prevent unauthorized access, the native VLAN of the trunk port should be changed from the default VLAN 1 to its own unique VLAN. The native VLAN must be the same on both ends of the trunk link; otherwise traffic could accidently leak between broadcast domains.
Check Content
Review the device configuration and examine all trunk links. Verify the native VLAN has been configured to a VLAN other than the default VLAN 1. If the native VLAN has been configured to VLAN 1, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
Port trunking must be disabled on all access ports (do not configure trunk on, desirable, non-negotiate, or auto--only off).
Discussion
Double encapsulation can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the native VLAN of the trunk port. Knowing the victims MAC address and with the victim attached to a different switch belonging to the same trunk group, thereby requiring the trunk link and frame tagging, the malicious user can begin the attack by sending frames with two sets of tags. The outer tag that will have the attackers VLAN ID (probably the well-known and omnipresent VLAN 1) is stripped off by the switch, and the inner tag that will have the victims VLAN ID is used by the switch as the next hop and sent out the trunk port.
Fix Text
Disable trunking on all access ports.
Check Content
Review the device configuration to determine if trunking has been disabled on access ports. If trunking is enabled on any access port, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
A dedicated management VLAN or VLANs must be configured to keep management traffic separate from user data and control plane traffic.
Discussion
All ports, including the internal sc0 interface, are configured by default to be members of VLAN 1. In a VLAN-based network, switches use VLAN 1 as the default VLAN for in-band management and to communicate with other networking devices using Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP), Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP), Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP), VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP), and Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) all untagged traffic. As a consequence, VLAN 1 may unwisely span the entire network if not appropriately pruned. If its scope is large enough, the risk of compromise can increase significantly.
Fix Text
Best practices for VLAN-based networks is create a dedicated management VLAN, prune unnecessary ports from gaining access to VLAN 1 as well as the management VLAN, and to separate in-band management, device protocol, and data traffic.
Check Content
Review the device configurations to determine if a dedicated VLAN(s) have been implemented for the management network. VLAN 1 must not be used. If a dedicated VLAN or VLANs have not been established for the management network, this is a finding. If VLAN 1 is used for management, this is also a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer
The auxiliary port must be disabled unless it is connected to a secured modem providing encryption and authentication.
Discussion
The use of POTS lines to modems connecting to network devices provides clear text of authentication traffic over commercial circuits that could be captured and used to compromise the network. Additional war dial attacks on the device could degrade the device and the production network. Secured modem devices must be able to authenticate users and must negotiate a key exchange before full encryption takes place. The modem will provide full encryption capability (Triple DES) or stronger. The technician who manages these devices will be authenticated using a key fob and granted access to the appropriate maintenance port, thus the technician will gain access to the managed device (router, switch, etc.). The token provides a method of strong (two-factor) user authentication. The token works in conjunction with a server to generate one-time user passwords that will change values at second intervals. The user must know a personal identification number (PIN) and possess the token to be allowed access to the device.
Fix Text
Disable the auxiliary port. If used for out-of-band administrative access, the port must be connected to a secured modem providing encryption and authentication.
Check Content
Review the configuration and verify the auxiliary port is disabled unless a secured modem providing encryption and authentication is connected. If the auxiliary port is enabled without the use of a secured modem, this is a finding.
Responsibility
Information Assurance Officer